Station Update - June 16, 2011

Open letter to WBPL Listeners from the Board of Directors- June 16, 2011

We want to give you an update on the ongoing interference problems we are facing in some parts of our listening areas. The solutions we are looking at are taking longer than expected but there has been progress.

On January 4, 2011, President Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act of 2010, which modifies current restrictions on low-power FM radio stations. It will open up some additional channels that we should be able to switch to with approval from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Before we can apply for that change, we have to wait for the FCC to write the new rules that apply to that legislation. As soon as that happens we will submit an application to change our broadcast channel. This could happen by the end of the year but we have been wrong before in making predictions. This solution will eliminate the interference we get periodically from the station up in Carteret County.

The other solution we are looking at has also been delayed due to circumstances out of our control. As we mentioned last year, it involves the purchase of an additional broadcast facility which would give us a second channel with much broader coverage. Our signal in New Hanover county and the northern part of Brunswick county would have much less interference, from all sources, and the number of homes we reach will be much greater. This could possibly happen within the next 12 to 18 months.

We are looking forward to eventually implementing both solutions so we can more effectively proclaim the gospel to all of you and your neighbors.

We presently are also working on some other items. One being the ability to make online donations and the other is online streaming of our broadcast over the Internet. We will keep you posted on air when these come about. Please keep our station in your prayers.

Wilmington Catholic Radio is an affiliate of Relevant Radio and of EWTN Radio, both of which are listener supported non-profit radio networks.

Wilmington Catholic Radio is an apostolate serving the Catholic Church and consistently operating in accord with the principles and truths of the Catholic Faith as expressed in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the living Magisterium of the Church. Our goal is to always provide the community with solid Catholic teaching so Catholics can have an easy way to learn more about their faith, and for non-Catholics to learn what the Church really teaches. This is our mission.